Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Security topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Berwick Area SD explores walk-through metal detectors after vendor quote; board to seek more bids
Summary
Board reviewed a vendor quote for walk-through/open-gate metal detectors (vendor estimate described as about $20,000 per unit), discussed installation/training and throughput concerns for a 900‑student middle school, and agreed to gather competing quotes and revisit the item at the December meeting.
The Berwick Area SD board debated whether to move forward with walk‑through/open‑gate metal detectors after staff presented a vendor quote the district described as roughly $20,000 per unit.
Staff said the initial quote included installation and training costs and that the board had discussed buying two units per building (eight units total). Board members asked whether items such as replacement batteries and installation ports were necessary and whether the units could instead be battery‑operated to reduce installation expense.
Members raised operational concerns for the middle school, which staff noted has roughly 900 students: a vendor advised that processing that many students through two entrances during a narrow arrival window could be challenging. A staff member suggested using a small number of installed units for training and then having district staff install the remaining units to reduce vendor installation costs.
The board noted that a policy would require a second reading before any purchase and that potential state or other grant funds might be available once the state budget was resolved. Several board members asked staff to collect competing quotes and to return with a narrowed list of required features.
No purchase vote occurred; the board directed staff to continue due diligence and bring a revised quote and procurement plan back for discussion at the December meeting.
